As a commercial refrigeration tech, can confirm thay 75% of the problems we run in to are electrical. Even after getting out of reisdential retrofit, i still gotta know 3 trades for one job
And yet we get paid less than plumbers and electricians in most cases. I have to go to many generator installs that electricians couldn't troubleshoot.
@lillian6023 how much more do u make $ wise switching over from replacements to commercial refrigerant tech? I'm currently on replacements but always looking for the bigger $
@@spenceryelinek4313Electricians and Plumbers gets paid more probably because of the legacy it has in the skilled trades and how developed their industry is. HVACR Technicians became the new kids on the block in terms of the trade itself and the use of the air conditioner in residential homes since the late 1960’s. The money for HVAC type of work is with building automation though.
I totally agree with this guy. I did commercial hvac for 10 years. Then out of no where I started installing commercial EV charging stations for Tesla. I was able to take my a/c knowledge and apply it in an entirely different field. A/c techs against the world
I did a year as an hvac apprentice and man yea you need to know plumbing for boilers, electrical for literally anything wrong with the furnace or ac and you need to just know HVAC shit it’s insane I understand now why where I live HVAC techs are making way more than the other trades.
Where do you live? Currently gonna go to school for hvac I’ve been a diesel tech for years and this shit don’t pay as much as I think hvac would and I do more work.
@@ivanrod533I second this question, I’m in B.C CA and I was about to head into school to become an electrician but I’ve done a lot of personal research and honestly hvac seems a lot better. All the starting pay is actually like double the amount and seems to be equal if not higher at the top end of things, plus you become a technician 3 years sooner and can take the red seal test after 6210 work hours as a tech. Whereas electrical It’s like the basic b*tch trade at this point or at least it feels like it. The “highest paid trade” hasn’t been true for a couple years now at least. Idk maybe don’t take advice from a 19 yr old but shit man I’d say do it I’m fully committed to becoming an hvac tech come this September and I say it’s better to risk it and win rather than not find out and watch your buds be richer in 10-20 years.
you would recommend industrial and commercial over residential? I just turned 20 today, looking to figure out if i want to be an Electrician or an HVAC tech.
@@Mohdzn I’m also 20, I’m facing the same battle my friend. I’ll be getting into an apprenticeship with the company I work for sometime this December or the beginning of next year. I’m deciding between HVAC tech and Electrician. I’ve talked to both, and it seems the electrical may be the best bet out of all the trades if you’re looking for money, but HVAC tech is definitely up there as well. Go with whatever you’re interested in. If you choose one just because of the money you may end up miserable and quit.
@@monkeymoment6478 thanks for sharing that brother. i wish the best for you and i hope you figure it all out. Im not sure if thats the case here in canada. However, its hard to pick one as i have no experience of either one. HVAC or Electrician.
Commercial hvac has been cool af being downtown on top of big buildings is a view. Plus all the cool businesses you can say you worked on. Its alot but its also really fun
😂 Let's be fair. As an HVAC technician with his 4 year journeyman license, myself and a couple other residential techs in our company can run circles around our electricians in the electrical department, hands down. Understanding low voltage, high voltage and some Controls especially with all the communicating dc voltage systems out there, it's no contest.
As a commercial/residential/refrigeration tech I've thought about doing just electrical but then I'd be losing out on my many other skills too like plumbing. Carpentry , soft welding etc I wanna be good at them all
As an owner operator of a mechanical install and service company, I completely agree with you. I’ve always told my apprentices that to be a great HVAC tech requires you to be a great electrician as well. The only thing I disagree with is the statistic about ~%80 of residential calls are electrical issues. At least in my area a majority of the issues are due to bad lineset installation practices causing contamination of the refrigeration circuit.
@@darrend1068 you’re right, you don’t have to be an electrician, and many are not. But the key is to be a”Great” technician. You don’t have to be great at anything to do a job but it definitely improves efficiency and call back rates.
@@handbuiltlife1187 agreed. I’m blessed I found out about the trade right after high school. Fascinated by everything and enjoy learning in my free time. There is always something new to be learned in this field every day.
He’s not saying you have to be an electrician he’s just saying that if you are both as a company you can take on more work and potentially make more money, as an hvac tech you already have a decent understanding of electrical work because you have to, to service mechanical equipment. He’s just giving a hypothetical of if you took both all the way you’d have more work available and potentially be able to charge more for your work being that you’re licensed in electrical and can pull permits on electrical work. A lot of companies in my area that do hvac also do electrical, and one of the bigger companies does hvac, electrical, and plumbing. It’s all from a business standpoint and more about opportunity than it is a statement on what you should do for your specific business.
The statistic is also just kinda a guesstimate but I see where he’s coming from, a good hvac tech can tell you that your capacitor is blown and you need a new one. A great hvac tech can tell you why it blew, sometimes it’s not just old age or overheating it’s an underlying electrical issue.
I’m a current semi truck mechanic and I’ve been one for years I’m tired of the back breaking work so I’m using my GI Bill to go to school for hvac because I feel like it’s less laborious and I think hvac pays more and also I love electrical work anyone think this is a good idea?
My entire channel recolves almost exclusively around hvac electrical, and I agree at least 80% of issues are electrically related. But, I would say that 80% also includes the many mechanical problems that are diagnosed through clues revealed in electrical circuits and sequences.
In Plumbing as long as you have your apprentice card, every hour you work at that company you can get credit towards your plumbing license with TSBPE. If electrical and A/C are similar, Just get your apprentice card and you will accrue your needed hours for your electrical (or A/C) license.
I am a retired HVAC/R Tech and licensed electrical contractor. I did just what this gentleman refers to as I was in HVAC before I got my electrical license. Make NO MISTAKE it is not easy to learn and perform both trades at a high level don’t kid yourselves. The electrical test was 9 hours and included fire alarms and business law as well as electrical code
I mean, good points, but I’m gonna say if I have a step up but there’s a lot more to electrical and getting an electrical journeyman license than that. I would find it hard to believe that any jurisdiction or state would take HVAC experience 8000 hours of required time. There’s way more codes there’s so much more electrical than just heating and air-conditioning but yeah, I’ve met some pretty good text that a lot about how electricity affects heating and air. Where I am at they basically already let heating and air guys set their own disconnect. Replace them on single-family homes. If you’re talking in general, maybe for homes or being a residential electrician, there’s way more to commercial than just knowing your circuits
I'm a stationary engineer, so I'm both a HVAC tech and an electrician. I have no idea what you're talking about.. I have my section 608 EPA cert for refrigerant collection, and I've taken a few classes on basic high/low voltage circuits/controls, but that's it. Here in California, you don't need an electrician 3 cert for repairing, only for construction/contractor purposes. I could get my low/high voltage certs, and I probably will when I have more time for more classes, but I make as much, if not more than the average electrician/HVAC tech.. you gotta understand that those building codes and stuff you referenced is planned up long before it's built, and I think this channel is based on repairs, not planning and building. What Roger is referencing is that HVAC systems rarely fail in a catastrophic sense, but usually one of the electrical components isn't working, which will typically make the entire system quit
Sorry Roger, it's just not as simple as understanding the flow of electricity or water for that matter. What we need are apprenticed skilled trades. It does make a difference.
HVAC technicians are expected to fo a lot of electrical work including fishing wires through walls installing light fixtures, switches and outlets and we spend a lot of time in the breaker panels too.
No, you should be an HVAC technician. Why would you try to get someone to switch trades? I really love what I do. I hate being stuck on construction sites for long periods of time and boy do electricians dig alot. In my local area I make way more money then my friends who are electricians. I don't agree with Roger
Learned from my HVAC instructor it’s best to just stick to one trade love HVAC because it has components of most trades out there glad I got into trade 2 months down 7 more to go
It's so you can say yes to different types of jobs, just like how in hvac we change water heaters from time to time, it's easy money. If someone likes the quality of your hvac work they would probably ask if you can complete some other jobs for them, this pays off massively in seasons where work may be slow
I’m about to go into trade school for plumbing as I realized most of the HVAC stuffs can only sell to people who have a plumbing license and my ultimate goal is to become a HVAC tech (the trade school close to me does not have HVAC training)
Company I work for does Electric,Hvac, and plumbing yeah I got offer I couldn't refuse my company wasn't working for me and less stress working for someone instead of myself
You're absolutely right about HVAC repair being electrical 95% of the time, with the rest being refrigerant related. But it's silly/ borderline stupid to say it's low voltage.. thermostats are low voltage, sure, but they connect to high voltage relays.. even in houses, your central air will be 220VAC for the compressor's circuit. That's a deadly amount of electricity.
Honesty just finished uei I was iffy about choosing my trade but went with technician I feel like theirs a high pay in the long run and camiforna gas a bunch of jobs hiring
85% of residential is most definitely not electrical. Us hvac guys make more than electricians as well. I used to do residential now I’m in large commercial industrial. Some of the most miserable people I have ever met are electricians
I am a union Electrician, we make good money, and I agree alot of the old heads are miserable, but alot are happy too! I fucking love electrical, it's fun as hell!
If you had to choose which Tray someone should begin with with no experience, which one would you recommend HVAC first or electrical? I’m 21 years old and looking to start a trade
You can get into any trade with no experience...that's how most people start. Would you enjoy HVAC more or Electrical? It all comes down to which you would enjoy doing for work every single day...
It's funny because there are a ton of "electricians" on you tube who think they know what HVAC and commercial refrigeration is. I just had a guy saying he could "RUclips the entire commercial refrigeration trade". Meanwhile he's a union electrician. I've fixed plenty of electrician's mistakes and my business is primarily commercial refrigeration.
Im a beginner-intermediate tech with about 3 years on and let me tell you we don’t get paid shit and we know plumbing electrical and hvac. And not to mention we get paid the lowest out of everyone.
I live in nyc and im also a part of the union. we are the one of the only union trades in nyc with a top pay under six figures. ive been doing it about 3-4 years and im getting paid top level right now. we make good money but compared to the other trades we are way lower. How would you suggest going into these other trades such as electrical and all?@@RogerWakefield
also in nyc atleast there is no real apprenticeship. you are considered a helper and are only sent to school to the union by the companies discretion. so if they dont send you you are expected to pick it up on your own.
@@RogerWakefield yes I would because of benefits and pay. Non union is even less. That is true but you know with unions it’s a lot of who you know, connections, etc
As a commercial refrigeration tech, can confirm thay 75% of the problems we run in to are electrical. Even after getting out of reisdential retrofit, i still gotta know 3 trades for one job
We know more than electricians do about electricity.
And yet we get paid less than plumbers and electricians in most cases. I have to go to many generator installs that electricians couldn't troubleshoot.
@lillian6023 how much more do u make $ wise switching over from replacements to commercial refrigerant tech? I'm currently on replacements but always looking for the bigger $
@@spenceryelinek4313Electricians and Plumbers gets paid more probably because of the legacy it has in the skilled trades and how developed their industry is. HVACR Technicians became the new kids on the block in terms of the trade itself and the use of the air conditioner in residential homes since the late 1960’s. The money for HVAC type of work is with building automation though.
Supermarkets?
I totally agree with this guy. I did commercial hvac for 10 years. Then out of no where I started installing commercial EV charging stations for Tesla. I was able to take my a/c knowledge and apply it in an entirely different field. A/c techs against the world
I did a year as an hvac apprentice and man yea you need to know plumbing for boilers, electrical for literally anything wrong with the furnace or ac and you need to just know HVAC shit it’s insane I understand now why where I live HVAC techs are making way more than the other trades.
Where do you live? Currently gonna go to school for hvac I’ve been a diesel tech for years and this shit don’t pay as much as I think hvac would and I do more work.
@@ivanrod533I second this question, I’m in B.C CA and I was about to head into school to become an electrician but I’ve done a lot of personal research and honestly hvac seems a lot better. All the starting pay is actually like double the amount and seems to be equal if not higher at the top end of things, plus you become a technician 3 years sooner and can take the red seal test after 6210 work hours as a tech. Whereas electrical It’s like the basic b*tch trade at this point or at least it feels like it. The “highest paid trade” hasn’t been true for a couple years now at least. Idk maybe don’t take advice from a 19 yr old but shit man I’d say do it I’m fully committed to becoming an hvac tech come this September and I say it’s better to risk it and win rather than not find out and watch your buds be richer in 10-20 years.
@@ivanrod533I make about 110-120k annual in hvac in upstate South Carolina.
Where do you live?
Anyone in residential HVAC gtfo, so much more money in commercial industrial especially if you know controls as well as HVAC
you would recommend industrial and commercial over residential?
I just turned 20 today, looking to figure out if i want to be an Electrician or an HVAC tech.
@@Mohdzn
I’m also 20, I’m facing the same battle my friend. I’ll be getting into an apprenticeship with the company I work for sometime this December or the beginning of next year. I’m deciding between HVAC tech and Electrician. I’ve talked to both, and it seems the electrical may be the best bet out of all the trades if you’re looking for money, but HVAC tech is definitely up there as well. Go with whatever you’re interested in. If you choose one just because of the money you may end up miserable and quit.
@@monkeymoment6478
thanks for sharing that brother. i wish the best for you and i hope you figure it all out. Im not sure if thats the case here in canada. However, its hard to pick one as i have no experience of either one. HVAC or Electrician.
Commercial hvac has been cool af being downtown on top of big buildings is a view. Plus all the cool businesses you can say you worked on. Its alot but its also really fun
I was a residential tech for 6 and a half years and just switched to commercial and got to say, I like alot more.
HVAC should be counted as electrical experience.
😂 Let's be fair. As an HVAC technician with his 4 year journeyman license, myself and a couple other residential techs in our company can run circles around our electricians in the electrical department, hands down. Understanding low voltage, high voltage and some Controls especially with all the communicating dc voltage systems out there, it's no contest.
As a commercial/residential/refrigeration tech I've thought about doing just electrical but then I'd be losing out on my many other skills too like plumbing. Carpentry , soft welding etc I wanna be good at them all
Go for it!
As an owner operator of a mechanical install and service company, I completely agree with you. I’ve always told my apprentices that to be a great HVAC tech requires you to be a great electrician as well. The only thing I disagree with is the statistic about ~%80 of residential calls are electrical issues. At least in my area a majority of the issues are due to bad lineset installation practices causing contamination of the refrigeration circuit.
Does not require you to be a electrician. You just need to know how to use a meter and know just enough about electricity
@@darrend1068 you’re right, you don’t have to be an electrician, and many are not. But the key is to be a”Great” technician. You don’t have to be great at anything to do a job but it definitely improves efficiency and call back rates.
@@handbuiltlife1187 agreed. I’m blessed I found out about the trade right after high school. Fascinated by everything and enjoy learning in my free time. There is always something new to be learned in this field every day.
He’s not saying you have to be an electrician he’s just saying that if you are both as a company you can take on more work and potentially make more money, as an hvac tech you already have a decent understanding of electrical work because you have to, to service mechanical equipment. He’s just giving a hypothetical of if you took both all the way you’d have more work available and potentially be able to charge more for your work being that you’re licensed in electrical and can pull permits on electrical work. A lot of companies in my area that do hvac also do electrical, and one of the bigger companies does hvac, electrical, and plumbing. It’s all from a business standpoint and more about opportunity than it is a statement on what you should do for your specific business.
The statistic is also just kinda a guesstimate but I see where he’s coming from, a good hvac tech can tell you that your capacitor is blown and you need a new one. A great hvac tech can tell you why it blew, sometimes it’s not just old age or overheating it’s an underlying electrical issue.
I started as a plumbing apprentice then got my certifications for residential refrigeration/HVAC. I was also used as a electrician a lot of times
I did just that now I do air conditioning. Heating and electrician 27 years.😊 But my back went bad.😢
Had electrical training when I did hvac work with companies. It’s the same just different title. HVAC is plumbing and electrical here in Florida
I’m a current semi truck mechanic and I’ve been one for years I’m tired of the back breaking work so I’m using my GI Bill to go to school for hvac because I feel like it’s less laborious and I think hvac pays more and also I love electrical work anyone think this is a good idea?
If a plumber and an electrician had a baby it would pop out as an HVACer.
im an electrician and we also do hvac tech
I agree with this fully. I’m a HVAC tech and have my residential electrical license. The test isn’t easy by any means though
You're right, but the payout is worth it
@@RogerWakefieldabsolutely 💯
Today you can't do plumbing either without electrical experience
As a commercial/residential refrigeration tech yeah I get told this all the time
They used to insulate the outside of sealed ductwork, now they insulate the inside of ductwork with fiberglass insulation
You should see supermarket refrigeration. You see a bunch of janky stuff in the electrical sections
Residential Electrical is soooooo easy
My entire channel recolves almost exclusively around hvac electrical, and I agree at least 80% of issues are electrically related. But, I would say that 80% also includes the many mechanical problems that are diagnosed through clues revealed in electrical circuits and sequences.
Love your channel dude ! I’m learning a lot from you, thx dude !
We probably know control voltage better than most electricians 😊
In Plumbing as long as you have your apprentice card, every hour you work at that company you can get credit towards your plumbing license with TSBPE. If electrical and A/C are similar, Just get your apprentice card and you will accrue your needed hours for your electrical (or A/C) license.
85-90% of hvac problems are airflow problems that manifest as electrical problem symptoms.
I am a retired HVAC/R Tech and licensed electrical contractor. I did just what this gentleman refers to as I was in HVAC before I got my electrical license. Make NO MISTAKE it is not easy to learn and perform both trades at a high level don’t kid yourselves. The electrical test was 9 hours and included fire alarms and business law as well as electrical code
I mean, good points, but I’m gonna say if I have a step up but there’s a lot more to electrical and getting an electrical journeyman license than that. I would find it hard to believe that any jurisdiction or state would take HVAC experience 8000 hours of required time. There’s way more codes there’s so much more electrical than just heating and air-conditioning but yeah, I’ve met some pretty good text that a lot about how electricity affects heating and air. Where I am at they basically already let heating and air guys set their own disconnect. Replace them on single-family homes.
If you’re talking in general, maybe for homes or being a residential electrician, there’s way more to commercial than just knowing your circuits
I'm a stationary engineer, so I'm both a HVAC tech and an electrician. I have no idea what you're talking about.. I have my section 608 EPA cert for refrigerant collection, and I've taken a few classes on basic high/low voltage circuits/controls, but that's it. Here in California, you don't need an electrician 3 cert for repairing, only for construction/contractor purposes. I could get my low/high voltage certs, and I probably will when I have more time for more classes, but I make as much, if not more than the average electrician/HVAC tech.. you gotta understand that those building codes and stuff you referenced is planned up long before it's built, and I think this channel is based on repairs, not planning and building. What Roger is referencing is that HVAC systems rarely fail in a catastrophic sense, but usually one of the electrical components isn't working, which will typically make the entire system quit
HVAC Techs King Of All Technicians .....
Mechanics do everything a/c welding electric, mechanic
That is true, about 80-90 percent of service calls are electrical related
I’m an electrician and I have fixed a bunch of HVAC units.
I would say 85-90% its the tenants not changing filters, and the other 10-15% of the time it's electrical
Sorry Roger, it's just not as simple as understanding the flow of electricity or water for that matter. What we need are apprenticed skilled trades. It does make a difference.
HVAC technicians are expected to fo a lot of electrical work including fishing wires through walls installing light fixtures, switches and outlets and we spend a lot of time in the breaker panels too.
What pays better?
He's overestimating 90% of residential HVAC techs!! Im a service manager for a residential company, its so hard to find qualified people
No, you should be an HVAC technician. Why would you try to get someone to switch trades? I really love what I do. I hate being stuck on construction sites for long periods of time and boy do electricians dig alot. In my local area I make way more money then my friends who are electricians. I don't agree with Roger
Exactly. HVAC is much more rewarding. Some of the most miserable dudes I’ve ever met have been electricians
@@darrend1068 totally agree
Learned from my HVAC instructor it’s best to just stick to one trade love HVAC because it has components of most trades out there glad I got into trade 2 months down 7 more to go
It's so you can say yes to different types of jobs, just like how in hvac we change water heaters from time to time, it's easy money. If someone likes the quality of your hvac work they would probably ask if you can complete some other jobs for them, this pays off massively in seasons where work may be slow
I’m about to go into trade school for plumbing as I realized most of the HVAC stuffs can only sell to people who have a plumbing license and my ultimate goal is to become a HVAC tech (the trade school close to me does not have HVAC training)
Company I work for does Electric,Hvac, and plumbing yeah I got offer I couldn't refuse my company wasn't working for me and less stress working for someone instead of myself
You're absolutely right about HVAC repair being electrical 95% of the time, with the rest being refrigerant related. But it's silly/ borderline stupid to say it's low voltage.. thermostats are low voltage, sure, but they connect to high voltage relays.. even in houses, your central air will be 220VAC for the compressor's circuit. That's a deadly amount of electricity.
Yeah but I don’t want to west ballerina slippers, and a tutu so I will stick with HVAC
Honesty just finished uei I was iffy about choosing my trade but went with technician I feel like theirs a high pay in the long run and camiforna gas a bunch of jobs hiring
85% of residential is most definitely not electrical. Us hvac guys make more than electricians as well. I used to do residential now I’m in large commercial industrial. Some of the most miserable people I have ever met are electricians
I am a union Electrician, we make good money, and I agree alot of the old heads are miserable, but alot are happy too! I fucking love electrical, it's fun as hell!
Yeah except most states make getting your electricians license pretty complicated.
If you had to choose which Tray someone should begin with with no experience, which one would you recommend HVAC first or electrical? I’m 21 years old and looking to start a trade
You can get into any trade with no experience...that's how most people start. Would you enjoy HVAC more or Electrical? It all comes down to which you would enjoy doing for work every single day...
Residential electrical is easier to start and begin in. I've done both and can say that with confidence.
It's funny because there are a ton of "electricians" on you tube who think they know what HVAC and commercial refrigeration is. I just had a guy saying he could "RUclips the entire commercial refrigeration trade". Meanwhile he's a union electrician. I've fixed plenty of electrician's mistakes and my business is primarily commercial refrigeration.
I don’t meet the prerequisite, I’m not allergic to brooms unfortunately.
Mechanic does a/c electrical, welding ,everything
It true and you'd stand out better.
Is taking the NEC test good to do before I go into HVAC?
Can't hurt. I'd be shocked (no pun intended) if you passed it without experience.
Electrician doing hvac atm 1 year in the man is right
We know how to manipulate it
Oh wow, ballsy statement.
Just go and become a licensed electrician
unfortunately I've learned everything I know by watching and doing. I've got my epa for hvac. but I'm learning off guys like me. Only more knowledge
hush your hulk hogan moustache
Who is that?
😂@@RogerWakefield
85-90% of AC problems are electrical.. WTF?? Bogus. Roger, stick to plumbing..
Im 23 is it too late to do hvac
23...There are people 3x your age just getting into it...there is not age cap to start something
@@RogerWakefieldsweet thx for motivation im about a week in learning lol
electricians don’t make HVAC money.
HVAC guy turned electrician?? That’s like saying a sprinkler guy can be a plumber. What’s this dude gonna say next??
He's right. I was an HVAC tech for over 30 years and we do a lot of electrical work bud outside of the air conditioning units.
Are you also saying electricians should become HVAC techs?
i became one, air-conditioning tech though and now find electrical not rewarding enough. The knowledge remains invaluable.
Im a beginner-intermediate tech with about 3 years on and let me tell you we don’t get paid shit and we know plumbing electrical and hvac. And not to mention we get paid the lowest out of everyone.
What part of the country are you in? Are you getting paid the lowest because of the company you're at or as an HVAC tech in general?
I live in nyc and im also a part of the union. we are the one of the only union trades in nyc with a top pay under six figures. ive been doing it about 3-4 years and im getting paid top level right now. we make good money but compared to the other trades we are way lower. How would you suggest going into these other trades such as electrical and all?@@RogerWakefield
also in nyc atleast there is no real apprenticeship. you are considered a helper and are only sent to school to the union by the companies discretion. so if they dont send you you are expected to pick it up on your own.
Are you still wanting to stay in the union? I would talk to the other unions in NYC and see what it would take to get in
@@RogerWakefield yes I would because of benefits and pay. Non union is even less. That is true but you know with unions it’s a lot of who you know, connections, etc